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Das Spermathekalepithel der Bienenkönigin ( Apis mellifera ): Morphologie, alters‐abhängige Veränderungen und Zellkontakte
Author(s) -
Kressin M.,
Sommer U.,
Schnorr B.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0264.1996.tb00056.x
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , microbiology and biotechnology , septate junctions , golgi apparatus , biology , endoplasmic reticulum , epithelium , ultrastructure , organelle , tight junction , cell junction , cytoskeleton , anatomy , cell , gap junction , biochemistry , intracellular , genetics
Summary The spermathecal epithelium of the honey bee queen (Apis mellifera): ultrastructure, age‐dependent alterations, and cellular junctions The spermatheca of the honey bee queen is covered by a single‐layered, uniform, polarised epithelium. The apical cell surface is greatly enlarged by protrusions and plasma membrane infoldings, the basal cell surface by numerous inter‐digitating, long, small processes. Cytoplasmic organelles are chiefly represented by mitochondria. Numerous microtubuli extend throughout the cytoplasm. Golgi and endoplasmic profiles are rare. The cells are subject to senile degeneration: with increasing age, a variety of cytoplasmic inclusions appear, among which are myelinated membranes, dense bodies and dense filamentous aggregates. The spermathecal epithelium does not seem to be involved in exocrine secretion related to nutrition of the long‐term stored spermatozoa. The ultra‐structure points, however, to ion transport functions and to an engagement in the maintenance of an adequate physicochemical environment ensuring the viability of the spermatozoa. Cellular junctions are represented by luminal zonulae adherentes, focal cell–cell adhering junctions and hemi‐adhering junctions along the basal plasmalemma. Desmosomal contacts and cytoskeletal intermediate filaments are missing. Along the lateral plasmalemma, gap junctions and septate junctions are found.